Lung cancer finding its sensitive side

Mutations in an oncogene called KRAS are common in a variety of tumor types, including lung cancer, and these tumors are often difficult to treat. In addition to tumor genetics, tumor cell phenotype plays a role in treatment resistance, and tumor cells that have converted from an epithelial to a mesenchymal phenotype are less likely to respond to chemotherapy. Peng et al. examined signaling alterations that occur during the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and identified a pathway that could be targeted by the epigenetic drug mocetinostat, restoring sensitivity to chemotherapy in cancer cells and mouse models.